22 August 2012

How to make a do-it-yourself nuclear fallout meter

In November of 1961, the mother of one of TYWKIWDBI's readers opened her "This Week" magazine. She encountered a two-part article discussing concerns about a cold-war nuclear attack, and dutifully clipped out this "how-to" portion so she could help her family survive. Her son found this among her effects some fifty years later.

I think that she will smile from above knowing those years of
keeping things she found important still are important. She had several
large filing cabinets (I mean large!) where the bits of info were cut,
sorted, and filed away- all pertinent and valuable to her mind and
career (as
an educator). Just recently, I went to Switzerland, and I took a
Michelin guidebook of the country from the early 60's I found in her
cabinets, complete with thoughts & notations where she had been, and
what she saw, and visited some of those same spots.

Some of this blog's more science-minded readers may be able to comment on the extent to which the science in the magazine article is valid. I find it to me more interesting from the sociological standpoint of popular culture and how families responded to the perceived risks of that era.

"Tai-wiki-widbee" is an eclectic mix of trivialities, ephemera, curiosities, and exotica with a smattering of current events, social commentary, science, history, English language and literature, videos, and humor. We try to be the cyberequivalent of a Victorian cabinet of curiosities.

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About Me

I'm using an old photo of my grandfather as an avatar; he would have been amused.
Old friends, classmates, students, former colleagues, or distant relatives are welcome to email me via retag4726 (at) mypacks.net